Prior to russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, russia’s leadership almost certainly perceived the russian Navy and the Black Sea Fleet as integral components of their strategic maritime power. After 1000 days of war, russia’s naval capabilities in the Black Sea have been significantly depleted through highly effective Ukrainian operations, the UK Defense Intelligence reports.
Before 2022, the Ukrainian Navy was vastly outnumbered by the Black Sea Fleet and limited to a small number of major warships and coastal defense vessels. Throughout the conflict, the Ukrainian Navy has been unable to operate conventionally in the Black Sea. However, since February 24, 2022, Ukrainian forces have destroyed or damaged over 25% of major russian warships operating in the Black Sea. This includes the sinking of the Moskva, Black Sea Fleet flagship, cruiser, which had previously been described as a cutting-edge air defense platform.
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As a result, russia’s Black Sea Fleet has been forced to move all of its major assets from its base in Sevastopol to Novorossiysk in the Eastern Black Sea Region. Russian units operating in the region have also been forced to adapt their tactics and change the areas in which they operate. Despite russia’s Black Sea Fleet currently being limited to the Eastern Black Sea Region, it retains the ability to conduct long range strikes into Ukraine in support of land operations.
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